Jamie Aranoff Urges Booties for Zion National Park Narrows
Jamie Aranoff said zion national park’s Narrows was one of her favorite hikes, but she also said she wished she had understood the currents, footwear needs and waste rules before she started. During a passing heat wave, she went there with her family to stay cool and hiked almost the entire 9-mile trek to Big Springs and back.
Jamie Aranoff in the Narrows
Aranoff, the digital editor of SKI, described the canyon as a shaded slot canyon with 1,000-foot-deep walls. She said, “It’s definitely one of my favorite hikes ever” and added, “It’s so fun and unique.”
The route reaches Big Springs, the traditional turnaround point and the furthest hikers can go without a wilderness permit. Aranoff said the Narrows can have serious currents, and that when water levels are high, “you can feel the river pushing you backward with every step.”
Gear and footing on the hike
Aranoff said closed-toed shoes are mandatory because of hidden rocks, a slippery bottom and cold water. She recommended neoprene booties and said, “I definitely wish I’d had [neoprene] booties,” because sneakers get heavy in the water. She also said, “When you hike in sneakers, they get really heavy, and you’re fighting the weight of your feet with every step.”
She said she hiked the Narrows in June and had to hold her pack over her head a few times, though her gear never got damp on that trip. She also said some years require hikers to swim through deeper sections, and that booties and wetsuits can be rented at Zion Guru a few minutes from the park entrance.
Waste rules at Zion Guru
Aranoff said official guidance is that hikers are not allowed to leave any human waste in the Narrows. She said guides generally tell hikers to pee directly into the water if they cannot wait until the trailhead, and that WAG Bags are a must for number two.
For hikers heading into the canyon, her advice is to ask a ranger about current conditions and bring footwear that can handle cold water and shifting footing. She said, “They’re super knowledgeable, and they won’t scare you in the wrong direction if you’re honest about your fears and your abilities.”
